Between bioarcheology, climate science, and metabolomics

There were eight nominations for the third edition, varying in themes, research team composition, and level of experience.  The independent jury, composed of Sarahanne Field from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Valentina Romano from the Politecnico di Milano, and Tony Ross-Hellauer from the Know-Centre in Graz, Austria, awarded three prizes.

Alice Crespi, Giacomo Bertoldi

Credit: Eurac Research | Oscar Diodoro

Hydrologist Giacomo Bertoldi and physicist Alice Crespi were recognized for a project that enlisted several hundred students from ten high schools to help recover Italy’s vast historical archive of precipitation and temperature records. As part of the citizen science initiative Cli-DaRe, promoted by the Italian Association of Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, the students digitized more than 4,000 pages of climate data dating back to 1915.
The initiative brought together researchers from the University of Milan “La Statale,” the University of Trento, the Polytechnic University of Milan, the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (ISAC/CNR), Eurac Research, and the Italian Meteorological Society. The jury praised the project for demonstrating “strong community engagement” through collaboration across institutions and generations.

Sabry Sarhan

Credit: Eurac Research | Oscar Diodoro

The bioarchaeologist Sabry Sarhan studies human remains in archaeological contexts. Using methods such as DNA analysis, CT scans, and isotopic analysis, he reconstructs the lives of past populations directly from physical evidence, minimizing the distortions that historical narratives, texts, or artistic representations can introduce. Among his many research interests, Sarhan has devoted significant attention to studying the preservation of Ötzi, the Iceman. The jury commended his “persistence in overcoming infrastructural barriers” as well as his “thoughtful engagement with the ethical dimensions of openness.”

Philippine Louail

Credit: Eurac Research | Oscar Diodoro

The biomedical PhD student Philippine Louail develops open-source software for mass spectrometry and reproducible computational workflows designed to harmonize metabolomic data. Beyond her own research, she supports research groups in standardizing their methods and creating open educational resources. The youngest award recipient, Louail impressed the jury with both the ambition and practical impact of her work. “Especially remarkable is her ability to integrate software development, community standardization efforts, and training activities, contributing concretely to the adoption of transparent and reusable research practices,” the jury noted. “Considering her early career stage, the research activities are quite impressive.”